Brave second-half revival just isn’t enough for U-20 hurlers THEGAME
All-Ireland U-20 ‘B’ Hurling C’ship Quarter-Final Sligo Roscommon 2-15 3-15
THIS WAS almost the mother of all comebacks. Sligo’s U-20 hurlers were 12 points down at half-time, 2-11 to 0-5, having completely crumbled against a Roscommon side inspired by Sean Canning’s first-half scoring burst of 1-7.
This GAA Hurling All-Ireland U-20 ‘B’ Championship (Richie McElligott Cup) quarter-final was only midway through at Markievicz Park and it was a borderline embarrassment for the hosts.
Then Sligo produced an astonishing second-half recovery as they outscored the visitors, 2-10 to 1-4, restricted Sean Canning to just one more point, and were only one score away from forcing extra-time.
Robert O’Kelly-Lynch led the charge for Sligo – he scored 2-8 in all and converted two second-half penalties (both awarded following infringements on the busy Adam Rolston) to keep the Barry Keenan-managed side in the mix. Lee Gilmartin, Neil Kelly, Darragh Flynn, who was excellent, and substitute Paul O’Brien were also to the fore for the home side.
Sligo, however, left themselves with too much to do for the second-half. With 15 minutes of normal time left the gap was 13 points, 3-13 to 0-9, following Roscommon’s third goal.
This makes Sligo recovery a remarkable yet unsuccessful one. It is a pity that these players only had one game to show their worth – imagine what a number of group games at this level, before the knockout stages, would do for these players.
Sligo were under pressure from the off as breeze-assisted Roscommon had a powerhouse at full-foward, Sean Canning (nephew of Galway hurling legend Joe Canning), as well as Paddy Fallon at corner-forward – Fallon scored 1-10 against Sligo in January’s Connacht GAA Senior Hurling League preliminary round fixture at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome in Bekan.
Sean Canning and Paddy Fallon both scored early points, with Sean Canning also going close with a goal effort, as Sligo’s only score of the opening 20 minutes was a good point from Adam Rolston.
When Sligo scored again – a converted free from Robert O’Kelly-Lynch – Roscommon were already 12 points clear, 2-7 to 0-1.
Paddy Fallon netted with a predatory closerange strike and Sean Canning thundered through Sligo’s defence before blasting a shot beyond goalkeeper Seamus Foody’s reach.
This was awful to watch from a Sligo perspective but, ironically, the eventual losers were beginning to play and they hit 0-3 in the last 10 minutes of the first-half compared to 0-4 from Roscommon.
Sligo were starting to ask questions of Roscommon’s defence – Darragh Flynn set up Adam Rolston for a rasping goal shot that flew over for a point and Robert O’Kelly-Lynch also
BEST FOR SLIGO: Robert O’Kelly-Lynch. The full-forward became a scoring machine in the second-half, with 2-5 of his 2-8 haul (including two penalties) coming during Sligo’s gutsy but unsuccessful recovery. The Sligo senior hurling team need to get Robert on board for the upcoming Christy Ring Cup campaign. TURNING POINT: The entire first-half. Sligo were simply dire during the opening period (admittedly Roscommon’s powerful forward Sean Canning was unstoppage) and the hosts were fortunate to be just 12 points down at half-time, 2-11 to 0-5.
got near Roscommon’s goal but was fouled. He subsequently converted for his third pointed free of the day.
Even with a mountain to climb, Sligo got busy in the second-half. Within 10 minutes of the restart they whittled four points from the deficit thanks to scores to Robert O’Kelly-Lynch (2), Ciarán Keenan and Donnchadh O’Brien, who landed an excellent score from play.
Roscommon hit back with 1-1, their third goal coming from Gavin Mears, who goaled from a rebound after Sean Canning’s goal effort was saved by Seamus Foody.
Sligo, now 13 points down, 3-13 to 0-9, were bereft again, their new-found determination seemingly evaporated.
But this group knuckled down, became doubly resolute, and scored 2-6 over the next 20 minutes (which included six minutes of additional time) as Roscommon were desperately clinging on.
The winners, who only pointed twice during Sligo’s comeback, relied on that 13-point cushion to absorb what Sligo threw at them.
Three minutes after Roscommon’s third goal Sligo scored their first. Darragh Flynn’s pass found Adam Rolston, who was impeded in Roscommon’s goalmouth. A penalty was awarded and Robert O’KellyLynch buried it.
Sligo were finding renewed heart all over the pitch – an example was Lee Gilmartin putting in a big challenge to halt Sean Canning.
With eight minutes of normal time left Sligo goaled again. Robert O’Kelly-Lynch converted his second penalty with deadly efficiency after Roscommon’s defence again couldn’t handle Adam Rolston, who received a pass from Neil Kelly. In between these goals there was a converted free from Ciarán Keenan.
Roscommon momentarily paused Sligo’s onslaught when Paddy Fallon pointed a free but when this score was cancelled out by a monster point from Robert O’Kelly-Lynch – with Darragh Flynn involved in the move – the difference was down to six points, 3-14 to 2-11.
There was still fire in Sligo’s collective belly – they added four more points to squeeze the margin to two, 3-14 to 2-15, with matters into added time.
Robert O’Kelly-Lynch registered two more pointed frees, including a breathtaking effort from long-range, Paul O’Brien pointed with aplomb and Neil Kelly landed a classy score after his Western Gaels clubmates, Darragh Flynn and Lee Gilmartin, combined to create the opportunity.
Sligo’s miracle was almost complete but a third goal unfortunately didn’t materialise as Roscommon, who were anxiously awaiting the full-time whistle, managed to score a 15th point to end their opponents’ dream. Sligo, so gutsy despite the odds, were left without reward.
Robert O’Kelly-Lynch
Seamus Foody, Oisin Hennessy, Lee Gilmartin (j-c), Marc Gray, Tomas Davis, Jaime Walsh (j-c), Neil Kelly (0-1), Darragh Flynn, Ciaran Keenan (0-2, 2f), Patrick Walsh, Cian Flynn, Donnchadh O’Brien (0-1), Adam Rolston (0-2), Robert O’Kelly-Lynch (2-8, 2-0 pen, 7f), Conor Lang
Subs used: Paul O’Brien (0-1), James O’Connell, Cormac Vereker, Conor White
Subs not used: Brian Woods, Jack Feeney, Rory Ó Connaláin, Niall Hallinan, Michael Costigan
Other panel members: Matthew Hunt, Matthew Percy, Barry Tobin, Jack Byron, Shane McDonagh, Thomas Hargadon, Corey O’Dowd, James Conway Roscommon: Jack Ryan, Thomas Tiernan, James Dillon (c), Tommy Fleming, Micheal Hussey (0-1), Oisin Flynn, Rory Lyons, Jimmy Hoey, Keelan Ryan, Cathal Geraghty, Gavin Mears (1-0), Rory Coyle (0-1), Paddy Fallon (1-4, 3f), Sean Canning (1-8), Brian Mannion (0-1)
Subs used: Daniel Bolger, Aidan Hoare, Liam Óg Coyle Referee: Aidan McAleer (Donegal)